Vol. 399 No. 8
15 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if the Government has considered the Report of the Committee on Public Safety and Crowd Control; if the Government accepts the recommendations of the report; if it is intended to implement them; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
96 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if legislation will be required to implement the recommendation of the Special Committee set up to investigate crowd control and public safety at our major stadia.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 96 together.
Having considered the report of the Committee on Public Safety and Crowd Control the Government has decided: (1) that the Minister for Justice with the Attorney General should make an assessment of the legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, which Minister would normally be responsible for it and report to the Government; and (2) that the Minister of State at the Department of Education should have responsibility for dealing with the report's key proposals such as the establishment of the proposed national authority for safety at sports grounds.
I understand that the Minister for Justice will be submitting his report to the Government at an early date for consideration.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I am glad some decision has been made in relation to who is responsible for what, as there has been some difficulty in relation to this matter. The Minister will appreciate that it is not only sports grounds which are involved — open air concerts, indoor concerts, etc., are also involved. May I ask the Minister — perhaps this is a job for the Minister for Justice but I am sure the Minister will have an idea of what is happening — if active consultation is taking place at present with sporting bodies and concert organisers in regard to the decisions which have to be made arising from this report? Will they report back to the Minister for Justice?
The committee was made up of key people involved in the various sporting organisations. Ongoing consultations and discussions have been taking place with various sport and other promoters. The matter has also been discussed by officials of the Ministers for Justice and Education and the Attorney General. As I have said, there are a number of areas where legislation is required and these are being examined with a view to a further report on necessary legislation.
May I ask the Minister when he envisages the proposals being implemented? Do the proposals cover the licensing of stadia and propose giving statutory power to the Garda to operate within sports grounds, which is a major grey area at present?
Many areas of action which do not require legislation have already been addressed and a significant amount of work has been undertaken to ensure that there is crowd control and improved safety standards at various grounds. The question of whether the authority should be statutory or non-statutory is being considered at present. With regard to whether we should set up a non-statutory authority to initiate action, this matter is being discussed at present by officials of the Attorney General and the Departments of Justice and Education. Until such time as a number of issues are clarified I will not be in a position to say when exactly legislation will be introduced. Neither am I in a position to say exactly what proposals will be brought forward in regard to the licensing of stadia and so forth. If the Deputy has read the report he will be aware of the necessity to have very close public and statutory control over stadia. It is intended, as a result of the committee's recommendations, that that control will be brought into being.
The various authorities, especially the sport authorities, of the large stadia have been more than anxious to comply with whatever action the Government have required them to take to date. Consequently, the question of legislation is not urgent. It is not as if there are people out there who are not doing what the Government have asked them to do. As I have said, a considerable amount of action has and is taking place. I am very satisfied that the committee's proposals, as outlined, are being put into place.
I ask the Minister to treat this matter as one of urgency. Since the Hillsborough disaster and the report of the committee there have been incidences at both Tolka Park and Pairc Uí Chaoimh where there was lax crowd control procedures and people were put in danger. I would like to ask the Minister to treat this matter with as much urgency as possible for the sake of public safety.
That is being done.
The Minister has said that all grounds are anxious to co-operate and I am sure that is the case. Nevertheless the report did stress the need for enforcement where grounds are not complying with the code. I am sure the Minister or the Minister for Justice will look at that. I would also ask the Minister to ensure that whatever code is set down is publicised and not just sent to the various grounds. The general public should know what code a particular ground should be enforcing.
This will happen. There are a number of areas where legislation must be introduced or amendments made to existing legislation, and obviously that will be published.
